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By Odeen Domingoazcentral sportsSat Jan 26, 2013 8:13 PM

There may not be a national soccer federation in the world with more positive momentum heading into 2013 than Mexico’s.

For the past two years, Mexico, from its youth national teams to the senior team, has placed an emphatic stamp on the international game.

Mexico won the 2011 U-17 World Cup, finished third in the 2011 U-20 World Cup, won the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, upset Brazil in the gold-medal game of last summer’s London Olympics and dominated its regional opponents to advance to the last round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

This current crop of Mexican players is being hailed as the “Golden Generation.” Mexico begins a busy and important 2013 with an international friendly vs. Denmark at University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday.

The man who an entire soccer-crazed country is relying on to lead this golden generation to a golden trophy in Brazil is Mexico National Team coach Jose Manuel “Chepo” de la Torre.

azcentral sports sat down with de la Torre ahead of Wednesday’s match vs. Denmark. De la Torre spoke in Spanish, and his answers have been translated:

Question: Mexico will play at least 25 matches this year between its annual U.S. tour, the final round of World Cup qualifying and this summer’s Gold Cup tournament in the U.S. and the Confederations Cup in Brazil. With so much expected of this team, do you feel any pressure to win all your competitions this year?

Answer: When you are in a position I am in, there is always pressure. We need to concentrate on our objectives. We look forward to prepare better for those games. There is not a single selection in the world that will guarantee you any type of result. What you try to find is the team that wants the same goal.

Q: How are you going to balance the national team roster with so many competitions ahead?

A: We have to be very cognizant of all the players in their different leagues. But in most instances, it’s hard to know — are they (the players) going to be good physically? Are they going to be good mentally? And with all those different things, it complicates everything. The good thing is that we have the sub-20 and sub-23 teams, they already know the system. And that helps us so they can integrate faster and easier. They know the frame of work.

Q: Since you have that opportunity to call up many young players, how much is that going to push the guys who are already established with the senior team?

A: That’s part of the competition that exists within the players. And it’s our job to select them. The thing that is important is to get to know the players. For us to know them. And for them to know us. That helps us a lot. To critique them, their elements. But the reality is, we have to see how they’re competing. The senior level guys, they also need to know that we still count on them.

Q: There are many players who are playing well in Europe, but what about the players in Mexico? How do they stand in the selection of the team?

A: We’ve always been very forward and blunt that we want to pick the best players, but we also have to have a balance. We have to be direct with the veteran players, but we have to see the level of each of them, and where they’re at. It helps to be vigilant to see where each player is at their current level. And with that, it makes the competition between the players tougher. That is why with this game vs. Denmark, it will give us a good feeling of who is going to start the rest of the year. We have to be very attentive to this league and determine who we can count on. It’s going to be very difficult to choose.

Q: What is your relationship like with young star forward Carlos Vela? He’s turned down a few call-ups to the national team, which many people think has strained your relationship with him. He’s playing well with Real Sociedad in Spain. Is he going to be included in the team?

A: Look, I never close doors to anyone. And the relationship with him has always been good. We always have good communication. What is he thinking? What does he need to be calm about? So we take all of that to make a decision. We have to have him convinced with what he needs to do with his club and with the national team. What we need is the best team available and the best available (players). So if I don’t have a good conversation with him on how’s he doing, how’s he feeling, it’s hard for me to come to a decision. So that’s why we have that communication. Not just with him but with others. The best form is to just to have the best communication.

Q: Star midfielder Giovani Dos Santos plays well for Mexico but not for his club team Mallorca in Spain. What does he need to do?

A: It’s the same situation. He, unfortunately, only does well with the country. He’s been growing with Mallorca, and that’s good for him. He has to be more consistent. And also for Mexico. But he’s just like everyone. He is in the same situation. He’s battling for a position.

Q: After Denmark, you play Jamaica in the first game of CONCACAF’s final round of World Cup qualifying on Feb. 6. How will you approach that match?

A: It’s important to start off really well. We have to get a good analysis of Jamaica. We have a lot of information. We know every situation of every player in their club. We have a little bit of time to get a consensus of our game plan. Jamaica is one of those teams that has grown, and we have to be very clear of what we have to do, and we don’t want to be surprised. Jamaica has had really good games against the United States, away and at home.

Q: After Jamaica, you face Honduras on March 22 and the United States on March 26. What about those matches?

A: They are all different. You have to play them different. But we’re going to go game by game. There’s never going to be an easy game. And the United States, of course, they have been very difficult to play. That game will never be easy or calm. What we need to do is be very independent of our plan.

Q: What are your thoughts on the U.S. team? Since Jurgen Klinsmann took over as the head coach, they’ve have good games and bad games.

A: I think that with Klinsmann, there’s been a change. Just like you said, they’ve had good games, bad games. He’s trying to adapt new things and it’s hard bringing different players from different places at a certain time. I think that’s what happened with the United States and Klinsmann. But the United States will not stop being a tough team. He’s trying to do a new style.

Q: You beat Brazil in the Olympic men’s gold-medal game in London. Are you going to look forward to playing them again in the Confederations Cup?

A: It’s a little far off to talk about it. That is five, six months away. We all have, at least I have, the mind-set that going into any game is to win. The task of winning a competition at this level is huge. And to be able to play this level of team is further proof of how far we’ve come. And a lot of these teams will come with their best teams. and we need to make the most of it. We’re not going to say we’re going to win this or win that. No one can guarantee any type of victory.

Q: What will be the new mentality of the Mexican player under your era?

A: It’s the one we have shown. Nothing different. We don’t try to play like the European players. We try not to play like the Argentinians. Not like the Brazilians. We try to play like the Mexicans. With our conditions and our characteristics. That’s the difference. We just try to play and do what’s best for the Mexicans.

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